Grady's Band

Grady has been discussing the band he wants to form. He has named his band "Grady's New Rock 'n' Roll Express." Grady and Hudson BOTH will play drums because Hudson is not allowed to do something that Grady is not also doing. I, Mom, will play bass and Dad will play guitar. We will have to hire someone to play keyboards. When I suggested that maybe Hudson could play the drums and Grady could play keyboards, I got a very definitive, "NO, Hudson and I will both play drums!" I guess Jason and I have to admit that we are influencing Grady to play music, like many parents influence their kids to play sports! Grady does seem inclined toward the music, as evidenced by him being disciplined at school for "rocking out" in line. I think Jason was secretly proud, although he had to act stern and tell Grady that there is a time and place for rocking out!

Pablo

Meet Pablo, the turtle that GG brought Grady to keep for a pet. Jason did lots of research and made Pablo a very nice home in a large tub out in the backyard. It was quite novel at first, and Grady wanted to go check on Pablo every day. However, Grady never wanted to touch Pablo - at all. Frankly, neither did I. When Pablo needed to be placed into his little pool of water to eat, I scooped him up with a huge plastic shovel. Although this is exactly the kind of pet we need - one that does not make noise, poop in the house, or require a lot of attention, it seems that Pablo did indeed require some attention and the novelty quickly wore off. We released Pablo into the creek and woods near our house to "go be with his family for the holidays." Obviously, Pablo's mother was missing him desperately, and he needed some time to find them before the holiday season. Grady seemed fine with this, and now has moved on to asking us for a dog.

You're crazin' me up

Okay, since I told an embarrassing story about Grady, now I feel compelled to tell some redeeming things, of which there are many. Lately, he has been taking special note of anything that makes us laugh and busting it out on us unexpectedly at a later time. I was running around, picking up the house one morning and he said, "Mom, you're crazin' me up." It took me a few minutes to realize what he was trying to say. He's heard me tell him a million times, "Grady, you are crackin' me up," so I guess my running around the house was amusing him and he was trying to tell me that.

Grady also has this crazy dance that I will try to post a video of - he has this kind of swingy, jaunty goose-step and he swings his arms to and fro while nodding his head and closing his eyes. We call it "high steppin'"and he likes to perform that for us a lot. He pays attention to everything we say to Hudson, so Grady will come over and say, "Look at that little sweetie" or "What a precious baby." He says he can't wait until Hudson can crawl and chase him around the house.

We recently went through a phase where, when Grady did not like something you said, he'd "throw it in the trash." First, you must understand his obsession with garbage trucks, and trucks of all sorts really. He almost had a heart attack over the street sweeper that went by the house this morning. So let's say Grady asked me if he could have a cookie at 8 a.m. and I said no, he would immediately reply to me, "I throw 'no' in the trash!" with the most disgusted look on his face. We're kind of past that now, and I'm glad.

Oh, this was sad the other day - Grady got put in his room for time out - I'm sure for back-talking me (and I have NO idea where he got that smart mouth). So I hear him in there, wailing "Daddy ... Daddy!" He always yells for help from the one of us who did not put him in time out, and if we both put him in time out, he yells, "Help me, Santa Claus" or "Help me, GG" which is his grandma Susan. So he's in there yelling for Jason for a little while, and I finally go in to get him out of time out. He told me, "I was yelling for Dad and he didn't come." I told him that was because Dad was at work. Grady pointed to a picture in his room of him and Jason and said, "I was looking at Dad and asking him to help me, but he couldn't hear me." Isn't that sad? He was staring at Jason's picture, just wishing he'd show up to get him out of time out (which Jason never does, so I don't know why he thought Dad was going to help him).

In telling this one, I will have to admit to somewhat neglectful parenting. At lunch this weekend, Grady was eating and drinking milk. After a sip of milk, he made a terrible face and told Jason, "This milk is spicy. It's burning my tongue!" Well, Jason smelled it and sure enough, we'd given that boy spoiled milk!

lake

After spending a few months homebound by a new baby who eats or sleeps every couple of hours, Jason and I had a moment of temporary insanity and decided to take our two boys on vacation to Arkansas. [I will also note here that there was some prompting by some of my cousins, who shall remain nameless (Kay Sullivan and Kristi Sullivan Patton) for us to load up the kids and head to Northwest Arkansas.] So we packed Hudson's swing, burp cloths, clothes, toys, bottles, formula, bottle warmer, bottle brush, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby nail clippers, baby medicines, baby towels and washcloths, diapers, wipes, and butt paste, along with Grady's clothes, shoes, portable DVD player, movies, toys, pull-ups, medicines, snacks. At some point I was afraid we were going to get all the stuff and forget the kids, and I swear, it took me three weeks to unpack.

But I'm really not complaining because it was all worth it. The kids were great on the trip, and I can honestly say that I am one of the few fortunate people out there who has a terrific family that I really enjoy being around and catching up with.

The first leg of our trip was to Southwest Arkansas so that Grady could see the grandparents who still live there. He loved it. Grady would move to Nashville tomorrow if he could. When we got home, he told me that he lives in Nashville, Arkansas. Ha, ha! He loves the Razorbacks and loves to call the Hogs.

Jason and I spent much of our trip commenting on how lush and green everything is! How quickly we forget how truly beautiful Arkansas is. We also forgot how HUMID it is. I told Jason he sounded like an 80-year-old man from the North as he kept complaining about how wet and sticky he was. It wasn't that I didn't agree - I did - I just didn't need to say it every hour. We laugh when people here in central Texas tell us that it's humid. They have obviously never visited the jungles of Arkansas, particularly the southwest area.

Grady had a great time swimming with his cousins, because you know he can swim "by himself" with his lifejacket on. Hudson had a great time being held and getting lots of kisses and attention from everyone. It must be fun to be the only baby around. We did some driving around Eureka Springs, and Grady got to ride the trolley and see the steam trains at the train depot. He was in heaven.

Parenting: It ain't for sissies

I was recently talking with a friend in my book club about being a new stay at home mom. She said, "Oh, you are so lucky," and I know I am so fortunate to be able to stay home with the boys for a while. However, I hear those words "you are so lucky" resounding in my head as I recount this next story to you, and I ask you to keep it in mind as well.

As many people already know, we are having quite a time getting Grady to poop in the potty. He has been tinkling in the potty for well over a year now, but absolutely refuses to poop. There is no toy, movie, or food on earth that is enticing enough to him to make him poop on the potty - believe me, we have tried everything. At one time or another, Grady and I have both been reduced to tears over it. So we've dropped the subject entirely, on the advice of our pediatrician. She says that kids over 3 who do not poop in the potty are common - they are just not talked about in public by their embarrassed parents. I asked her if we were all going to have to enter therapy over this, and she assured me we would not. I am convinced that Grady is punishing me for having another baby to take away 50% of his attention (the doctor actually agreed with me on this and said having Hudson probably did set us back). Jason and I agree that this is by far the most harrowing thing we've gone through as parents.

A few weeks ago, after we returned from our Arkansas vacation, Grady gave me a glimmer of hope when he told me he wanted to poop on the potty. After reading about 10 books, having 3 cups of water, singing several songs, and going back and forth a few times from his potty to Mom and Dad's potty, a mere 2 HOURS later - Grady pooped in the potty. We jumped, clapped, called Dad, screamed with delight, and picked out one of the many "reward" toys that has been collecting dust in the closet - a huge Tonka rescue helicopter with working propellers, lights, sounds, a rescue hook that moves up and down, and two action figures. Now, any normal person would have known not to get her hopes up after this incident, but I thought perhaps we'd gotten over a hurdle. I told Grady that I fully expected that he would no longer poop in his pull-ups since I could clearly see that he COULD poop in the potty. He excitedly agreed and played with that helicopter like there was no tomorrow.

The following morning, I had a very nice lady, Brenda, over to clean the house. I was finishing up one of Hudson's feedings and then the boys and I were vacating the scene so she could clean uninterrupted. Grady was playing both in the living room and in his room while I fed Hudson and chatted with Brenda. He was in his room for a long time before I really noticed he was missing. Just before I could call for him, Grady came around the corner with a strange look on his face. He was holding a new pull-up, and as he approached, I could see that his arms and legs were strangely tan - then the smell hit me and Brenda at the same time. I gasped, "OH, GRADY" and Brenda said, under her breath, "oh, no ... oh, no." Grady just very calmly said, "Can you help me put on this new pull-up?" as if nothing was amiss.

I handed Hudson to Brenda and went to check out just exactly what had gone down. In Grady's room, I found two huge brown spots on the carpet and a trashcan full of stained KLEENEX. I guess that was all he could find to try and clean himself. We suppose he pooped in his pull-up, then tried to discreetly clean himself up so that I'd never be the wiser. I guess he really thought he'd pulled it off, the way he just came and asked me to help him with his new pull-up. Of course, Grady had to be showered and God bless Brenda for cleaning up his floor! You know she was NOT expecting that when she came over that morning! Grady may have run her off for good!

These are not exactly the moments you envision when you are pregnant and dreaming of your sweet baby or when you are gazing down at your peacefully sleeping newborn. These are the things, as a parent, that you don't see coming and that no person, nor your own life experience, can really prepare you for. I mean, this was truly an experience that I had no reference for - a child, covered in his own poop, parading throught the house after having left me two piles of poop and a trashcan full of sh*tty Kleenex in his room! Seriously? But we got through it and can laugh about it now. I told Jason I'd be telling this story at Grady's wedding reception, just to pay him back for the stress. Ha, ha!

Parenting is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Hudson, then and now

What a difference a few months makes! Hudson has gone from a helpless little newborn to a very active infant right before our eyes. Here are his stats as of August 14: he is weighing in at a healthy 18 pounds and a height of 25.5 inches. He did great with his 2nd round of shots, only running a very low fever that went away in less than 24 hours. He is now rolling over all of the time, with ease. He is also sitting in his exersaucer and playing with all of the spinning wheels and squeaky buttons - making new discoveries every time he sits in there. He smiles when anyone makes eye contact with him. He is fascinated with Grady, and will lie in the floor with him and play for a long time. Hudson does need someone by him at all times, or he will quickly let you know about his displeasure. He takes 3 solid naps a day and sleeps all night - what a sweet boy! We've just started to give him a little rice cereal in the morning, and he is figuring out the spoon pretty quickly. It's almost time to get out the Jumperoo - Hudson bounces in his exersaucer and really gets a good leg workout!

Grady, 3 years

Grady amazes me every day with new words and new concepts. One minute he is a brave fireman rushing to action, the next minute he is a trash man picking up the neighbor's trash, and then suddenly he is a roaring lion on the prowl. He wears my tennis shoes as his fireman boots and puts a plastic bucket on his head for a helmet. Then he climbs on his firetruck (my stationary bike) and rushes to help people in need. As the trash man he always picks up "someone else's" dirty diapers and puts them in his trash truck.

He has memorized one of his fire truck books and can "read" the story almost word-for-word. It is so funny for him to use words like "unfortunately." He has also started asking me if I am "impressed" with certain things he does. He tells us his hair looks "fresh" after he combs it and that his hair is "fast" when it gets too long. He will actually tell us when he wants a hair cut!

Where the Sidewalk Ends

I must first give credit to Shel Silverstein for the title of my blog. This is one of my absolute favorite poems of all time:

Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

I chose this as the title of my blog because of Grady. We have been taking Grady and Hudson on walks in the neighborhood, and there is actually a place where the sidewalk ends along our walking path. Jason had taken them on that particular route, then I took them the following day. When we came to the place where the sidewalk ends, Grady was adamant that we must STOP and go no further because that is where Daddy had stopped and turned around the previous day. He was sure that we could not venture past the end of the sidewalk, except he was a little upset because just past that spot, there were "beautiful flowers" growing that he wanted to see. I assured him we could go on past the end of the sidewalk to see the flowers, but I really felt like I took a little of his childhood magic away when I did so. He was content to turn around and pick some wild flowers (a.k.a. "weeds") along the path home. When we got home I had a nice little collection of yellow, pink and purple flowers - chosen and picked especially for me. Ah, the joys of mothering little boys ...